Cape Town, June 10: As the Soccer World Cup countdown nears its anticipated conclusion, the focus will shift to teams’ performances on the field. One area that has come under scrutiny is a player’s ability to score goals.
But what is the science behind that famous Roberto Carlos goal taken from a free kick during the World Cup in France? The Brazilian kicked the ball far to the right of the wall, but it miraculously appeared to change direction and found the back of the net.
“The physics of soccer balls is complex and varies with each type of ball. We’ve already heard negative reports about Jabulani, despite being one of the most perfect footballs ever produced!” Dr Tony Kirkbride of the CSIR told News24.
He said that the science probably doesn’t mean much to soccer players, they simply practice their skill until it becomes instinctive.
“The arc is a function of ball geometry, weight, air temperature and viscosity, as well as velocity, position and direction of impact, not to mention skill of the player in bringing all these variables together for the perfect delivery,” he added.
–Agencies